The Scarlet Letter Guide with answers
The Scarlet Letter Name ___________
Study Guide
Chapter 1
1. What is the setting for the novel?
1642, summer, Boston, prison
2. Describe Hester’s appearance?
Wears letter A in fine red cloth with fancy designs in gold thread. Women are angry that letter and cloth are fancy (p. 7-8)
Dark hair, black eyes, beautiful features, wild and free spirit.
3. Why are the people gathering around the door?
To see Hester come out of the prison and receive her punishment.
4. What punishment would the Puritan women have given Hester if it were left to them?
Brand her forehead so she couldn’t cover up the letter. She should die.
5. What do you think is the meaning of the “A” on Hester’s gown?
6. What is Hester’s punishment?
She must stand on the scaffold for everyone to see her with the scarlet letter.
7. What does Hester think about while she is on the scaffold?
Sees the people and places she knew as a child, saw the village where she was born, sees her father’s and mother’s face, saw her own face glowing with girlish beauty. (p. 9-10)
Chapter 2
1. What gesture does the man make to Hester that suggests he knows her?
Puts his finger to his lips when Hester recognizes him. P. 11
2. What reference was made in chapter 2 that reminds the reader of this man?
Left shoulder higher than right, intelligent expression, many years studying books.
3. What does the townsman tell the stranger about Hester?
She has raised a scandal in the church. Wife of English gentleman, send Hester first while he tended to business. Never came for 2 years and now she has a baby.
4. Who is the baby’s father?
Hester won’t name him.
5. In chapter 2, Hester feels glad that she is standing on the scaffold in front of a large crowd and that it would have been worse to greet “the man” face to face, the two of them alone. Why do you think she feels this way?
6. Describe Dimmesdale.
Young, pale, came from one of England’s
Study Guide
Chapter 1
1. What is the setting for the novel?
1642, summer, Boston, prison
2. Describe Hester’s appearance?
Wears letter A in fine red cloth with fancy designs in gold thread. Women are angry that letter and cloth are fancy (p. 7-8)
Dark hair, black eyes, beautiful features, wild and free spirit.
3. Why are the people gathering around the door?
To see Hester come out of the prison and receive her punishment.
4. What punishment would the Puritan women have given Hester if it were left to them?
Brand her forehead so she couldn’t cover up the letter. She should die.
5. What do you think is the meaning of the “A” on Hester’s gown?
6. What is Hester’s punishment?
She must stand on the scaffold for everyone to see her with the scarlet letter.
7. What does Hester think about while she is on the scaffold?
Sees the people and places she knew as a child, saw the village where she was born, sees her father’s and mother’s face, saw her own face glowing with girlish beauty. (p. 9-10)
Chapter 2
1. What gesture does the man make to Hester that suggests he knows her?
Puts his finger to his lips when Hester recognizes him. P. 11
2. What reference was made in chapter 2 that reminds the reader of this man?
Left shoulder higher than right, intelligent expression, many years studying books.
3. What does the townsman tell the stranger about Hester?
She has raised a scandal in the church. Wife of English gentleman, send Hester first while he tended to business. Never came for 2 years and now she has a baby.
4. Who is the baby’s father?
Hester won’t name him.
5. In chapter 2, Hester feels glad that she is standing on the scaffold in front of a large crowd and that it would have been worse to greet “the man” face to face, the two of them alone. Why do you think she feels this way?
6. Describe Dimmesdale.
Young, pale, came from one of England’s